Coppice Lane, Sutton Coldfield – Saturday 13th September 2014.

Match report by Chris Phillips.

Dan Tooth capped a man of the match performance with two second half tries, during a 20 minute period that saw Banbury rack up 24 points.

The first half was a high tempo affair with both sides launching attacks in the oppositions 22, and while it was Banbury who were the more dominant neither side had the cutting edge to finish.

Banbury could be forgiven for thinking they had spurned 2 or 3 good chances with some less than clinical final passing, but they had the lion’s share of possession and a well-disciplined and hard tackling defence repelled each Spartans attack.

Bulls fly-half Tooth led a strong tackling back line by example and forwards had to work hard as Spartans looked to play an expansive game in the early stages. Ed Phillips kicked the only points of the half from a straight forward penalty around the 22.

A couple of changes at half time; Joe Mills was replaced by Alex Gandy and Jacob Mills by Doug Backhouse making his Bulls debut..

Tooth provided the spark that lead to a dominating period for Banbury. Spartans played a little to loose and Tooth snatched an interception on the opponent’s 10 metre line to run in unopposed, converted by Phillips.

It was Tooth again that broke the line for Banbury’s 2nd. Hauled down just short of the line Banbury recycled quickly which allowed Phillips, in true scrum half fashion, to nip around the edge of the ruck to dot down, conversion missed by Phillips, 0-15.

Banbury continued to apply pressure and when James Heywood’s typically powerful running broke 2 tackles in midfield and rampaged towards the line, it was, unsurprisingly, Tooth that was on hand to take the final pass and finish for his second and Banbury’s third. Conversion was ‘in off the post’ by Skipper Phillips, 0-22.

Spartans returned with a penalty after a lapse in Banbury discipline taking the score to 3-22.

Banbury were starting to become more confident and dominant as they worked the ball wide to Gandy. He swept past a couple of covering defenders before being caught by the full back. Phillips in support took the offload and outpaced the last defender for his 2nd of the afternoon, missing the conversion but taking the score to 3-27.

Banbury’s pack looked to secure a good platform, and that is exactly what they did for the next and final Banbury score. A strong scrum on the right hand side of the pitch allowed the backs room and good supply to work a move that saw Phillips break through and put Manley in for the try. 3-32 with a missed conversion by Phillips. Manley however injuring his shoulder in the process and with Joe Mills struggling from a knock, back-row 'speedster' Jacob Mills took to the wing.

Spartans to their credit never stopped trying to play rugby and kept coming at Banbury through the half. Tooth leading a strong tackling back-line with some good hits. The back-row worked well to stop anything off the back of the scrum and enacted good turnovers of possession.

Spartans had the last word when a move off the back of the scrum inside the 22 saw them go over, nothing more than a consolation as the final whistle blew and Banbury came out 8-32 winners.

A good start to the season that the Bulls will be looking to build on as they travel to Droitwich for next week’s league game. There is still rugby at Bodicote Park as the 2nds and 3rds take on Barkers Butts.